Getting Maintenance Records

Carfax may give you some info, but no detailed service records. I think it depends on the dealer, but I had no luck pursuing further. Actually my car had excellent records for the past 5 yrs from the seller, but I wanted to talk with the servicing mechanic to learn a bit more. When I called the dealer they said the records are exclusively between the owner and dealer, which I suppose is fair. So you can try digging and hope for the best...

And I agree, dodging calls and not answering questions is never a good sign. May want to consider other cars unless this one is ultra-rare. I had a good experience there, had the used car dealer contact cell # and talked often at odd hours.

 

I ran into the same problem. - but I have had some good people help me, as well.

You would think that they believe that its a matter of National security when you ask them about *gasp* routine service on an automobile.

 

Most business's are sensitized to the privacy thing. Find the prior owner(s), by talking to the used car dealer, carfax or voodo and ask them to write a note to the dealership authorizing them to give you copies of the service records. I believe most POs would feel enough sense of pride and kinship to do this for you.

With note in hand, ask to speak to the serrivce manager, (not during the opening to 9:30 rush), tell him you are very interested in the cars history and are looking for a shop to work with.
I would go one step further and tell him you recognize that this will take someone a while to assemble and copy these records and that you are willing to pay for this work to be done.

hth,
chris

 

I keep a folder on all the cars I own. I got copies of all the service records on my 575 from Algar since they sold it new. Prices were deleted (who cares) but, I have them. Same thing on my '04 T-Bird. On our cars purchased new, we have the same records. The record on my '98 little Tracker looks like a phone book. When I traded my '01 360, the new owner got the whole enchilada.